Liverpool scheme ‘fails to meet needs’

The Audit Commission has criticised Liverpool Council’s Supporting
People programme for failing to meet the needs of vulnerable
people.

The commission rated the council’s performance as “poor” with
“uncertain prospects for the future” in a report carried out as
part of its early inspection of 19 councils identified by the
government as having higher than average service costs.

The report said the council had failed to provide adequate housing-
related support services for single homeless people, older people
and those from ethnic minority communities. It also found the
council’s £46m Supporting People grant in 2003-4 was paying
out too much for some services

As a result the Commission for Social Care Inspection has given the
service no stars out of a possible three, and warned the council to
agree targets with partners in health and probation. The council
should also review the services it provides under the programme as
well as how they are managed.

Tony Hunter, director of supported living at Liverpool, said the
council was delivering change, and that services were getting
better.